Minutes
Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335
Columbia, SC
Friday, May 16, 2003
9:30 a.m.
The regular meeting of the Board
of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 9:30 am, on
Friday, May 16, 2003, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Columbia, South
Carolina. Notice of the date, time and
place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Dr. Joab M. Lesesne presided at the
meeting. Board members present included
Danny Ford, Ben Gregg, M. Russell Holliday, Jr., and Malloy McEachin. Vice Chairman Leary and Board Member Rucker
were absent from the meeting. Mr. John
Frampton and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present
at the meeting, as were various guests.
Chairman
Lesesne called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the
meeting.
Chairman
Lesesne asked for a moment of silent meditation.
Cary Chamblee introduced Angela Viney, Executive Director of
the South Carolina Wildlife Federation; Marge Davenport, USGS; Joey Holleman,
The State newspaper; and Dick Watkins, SC Wildlife Federation volunteer.
V. Presentations/Commendations
Mr.
Frampton commended the Division Employee of the Year recipients recently
recognized at the Department’s State Service Pin/Employee of the Year
ceremony. The recipients were Kevin
Kolb, Administrative Services; Dan Dobbins, Executive; Mary Pugh, CEC; Von Snelgrove,
Land, Water and Conservation; Harley Caudill, Law Enforcement; Mary Ellen
Williams, Marine; and Isaac White, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Von Snelgrove was also awarded the 2002
Department Employee of the Year.
Mr.
Frampton congratulated Van McCarty on his recent promotion to Lt. Colonel in
the National Guard.
VI. Advisory Committee Reports
A. Marine
Mr. Gregg
reported that the marine Advisory Committee met on May 8, 2003, at the Marine
Resources Center. Mr. Gregg stated that
the Advisory Committee received updates on Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, and Blue
Crab. Mr. Gregg also noted that there
will be an action item regarding the Shrimp Trawl Season later in the meeting.
B. Law
Enforcement
Due to Dr.
Leary’s absence, Col. Wright reported on the recent Law Enforcement Advisory
Committee meeting. Col. Wright stated
that the law Enforcement Advisory Committee met on May 14, 2003, at the Blue
Heron Learning Center in Ridgeland. The
Advisory Committee received comments from Mr. Petey Davis of the SC Crabber’s
Association. Mr. Davis discussed issues
relating to Crab pots and point system assessments. Col. Wright informed the Advisory Committee on the following Law
Enforcement activities: plane crash,
recent Southeastern Chief’s meeting, budget, Homeland Security, media activities
and case activities. Maj. McCarty
briefed the Advisory Committee on the new CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch)
program. Lt. Walters provided the
Advisory Committee with a legislative update and Capt. Baxter gave an activity
report for District 4.
C. Heritage
Trust
Mr.
McEachin reported that the Heritage Trust Advisory Board met May 1, 2003. The Advisory Board had no action items but
discussed Lewis Ocean Bay annexation, issues with Jocassee Gorges, and various
management plans. Tom Kohlsaat informed
the Board that the Advisory Board also discussed budget issues.
VII. Item
for Board Information
Ashley Scenic River Management
Plan
Bill
Marshall, with the Land, Water and Conservation Division, gave the Board a
brief presentation on the management plan.
Mr. Marshall reviewed the history of the Ashley Scenic River Project,
discussed why the Ashley River was designated as a scenic river and summarized
the planned goals and recommendations that were produced by the advisory
council. Mr. Marshall also noted that
private funds paid for publishing the plan.
A. 2003 Shrimp Trawl Season
John Miglarese requested that the Board
authorize the Marine Division to: (1) open the 2003 Spring commercial shrimp
trawling season on or after May 15, 2003, based upon sampling data and
following notification of the DNR Board by telephone, and (2) adjust the season
on brown shrimp on short notice should large quantities of small brown shrimp
be found. Mr. Gregg made a motion to
this effect. The motion was seconded by
Ms. Holliday and the motion carried unanimously.
IX. Director’s Briefings
Mr.
Frampton informed the Board that James O. Thomason, Chairman of the Harry
Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, recently had surgery to fuse six vertebra in
his back. He has suffered some
complications from the surgery and is back in the hospital in Charlotte.
Mr.
Frampton informed the Board of the unexpected death of Dan Dobbins’ brother,
Paul Dobbins. Mr. Frampton noted that
Paul had volunteered at the Palmetto Sportsmens’ Classic and other department
events.
Mr.
Frampton updated the board on the Hollingsworth Land Closing.
Mr.
Frampton reported that Cary Chamblee represented the Department at Palmetto
Conservation Foundation’s opening of Jocassee Gorges Passage of the Table Rock
State Park.
Mr.
Frampton noted that Mr. Chamblee also represented the Department at the
Governor’s Tabletop Exercise for hurricane season held at the State Emergency
Operations Center.
Mr.
Frampton stated that Mr. Chamblee and Lt. Robert McCullough represented the
Department at the Executive Level Homeland Security Briefing and a meeting of
the Counter Terrorism Coordinating Council.
Mr.
Frampton attended the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’
Spring directors’ Meeting in Montgomery, Alabama.
Mr.
Frampton met with several NGO’s, The Conservation Fund, Trust for Public Land,
SC Wildlife Federation during the month on land protection.
Mr.
Frampton will be traveling to Baltimore to attend the Atlantic Coast Joint
Venture NAWCA Ranking meeting on May 20 and will also meet with Congressional
Delegation staff members in Washington.
Mr.
Frampton informed the Board that on May 27, he will meet with staff of the CEC
and Administrative Services Divisions in the morning and the Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries Biologists in the afternoon. He explained that he is trying to meet with staff across the
agency to update them on the budget and answer questions.
Mr.
Frampton has met with the Governor’s staff regarding the reinstatement of the
Governor’s Water law Review Committee.
Legislative
Report
Derrick
Meggie reviewed the legislative status report as of May 16, 2003.
Habitat
Task Force
Barry Beasley reported that the
Habitat Task Force met in early May.
They discussed several projects and began compiling a list of all
properties and easements that the Department holds. This task force is also developing a conservation easement policy
for the Department.
X. Executive
Session
At this
time Mr. Gregg made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to
discuss contractual, legal and personnel matters.
XI. Return
to Regular Session
The Board
discussed no items in Executive Session that required action.
XII. Deputy Directors’ Reports
1. Law
Enforcement
Col.
Wright updated the Board on the month’s activities.
2. Land,
Water and Conservation
Freddy
Vang reminded the Board that the 2003 SC Aquatic Plant Management Plan and the
2003 Lynches River Festival information had been previously distributed.
3. Wildlife
and Freshwater Fisheries
No further report.
4. CEC
and Administrative Services
Carole
Collins reported that the BOW workshop will be held this weekend and some
upcoming events are Fishing 101 and Ladies on the Lake. Ms. Collins reported that the Multipurpose
License Renewal is currently being mailed.
5. Marine
No further report.
XIII. Time
and Location of the Next Meeting
Chairman
Lesesne stated that the next meeting of the DNR Board will be held on Friday,
June 20, 2003, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building in Columbia, beginning at 9:30
a.m.
XIV. Adjournment
There
being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the
meeting was adjourned.